Are you getting Yaked? Kevin Welsh ’15 weighs in on Hamilton’s obsession with Yik Yak on page 6.
Athletics Task Force Let’s go clubbing Learn about the changes coming in Hamilton Athletics. Page 14 has the inside story.
Turn to page 9 to learn about various new clubs on campus this semester.
The Spectator
Keith Wellin ’50
Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014
Volume LV Number 3
Jonathan Vaughan
College mourns loss of Wellin and Vaughan by Brian Sobotko ’16 & Dan Snyder ’17 News Editors
Keith Wellin Hamilton College life trustee and longtime benefactor of the college Keith Wellin ’50, GP ’11, ’14 passed away last Sunday morning, September 14, at the age of 88. Wellin is perhaps best known by current students for his donation to the Ruth and Elmer Wellin Museum of Art, named in honor of his parents, which opened in 2012. He also made donations towards Wellin Hall in the Schambach Center, the Wellin Atrium in the Taylor Science Center and the Wellin Performance Courts in the Little Squash Center. His support also benefited Hamilton through gifts honoring Elizabeth McCormack (student scholarships), Eugene Tobin (endowed professorship) and Joseph Anderson ’44 (student internships). “Those who had the privilege of knowing Keith remember a kind and gentle man who loved his family and his alma mater,” Stewart said in an email to the campus. His service to the College totaled four decades, including his time on the Board of Trustees and on the Investment Committee from 19881992. His parents inspired his love for the arts, especially his father, who was an amateur painter. He collected art as an adult, much of which he shared with the College in 2002 for the Hamilton
Collects American Art exhibition. In 1947, after serving in the Army for two years, Wellin came to Hamilton and earned a degree in English. He received his MBA from Harvard and went on to have a successful career on Wall Street. He is survived by his wife, Wendy.
Jonathan Vaughan On Sept. 15, President Joan Hinde Stewart announced the passing of James L. Ferguson Professor of Psychology Jonathan Vaughan. Vaughan died the day before due to complications from pneumonia. Vaughan, a Hamilton faculty member since 1971, received multiple grants and fellowships from the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Mental Health. He edited for professional journals including the Journal of Experimental Psychology. At Hamilton, Vaughan served on the Committee on Academic Policy and the Committee on Appointments and chaired the Psychology Department, most recently in 2010-11. “Jon represented the high ideals of a Hamilton faculty member,” Stewart declared. The following is a sampling of memories and reflections offered by community members on the College website: He was a great mentor, not only to students, but also to faculty like me, relatively new to Hamilton when he and I worked together on a senior
fellowship on free will. I’ll miss him. We all will. –Professor of Philosophy Marianne Janack
Jon was always so generous with his time and happy to help both faculty and students with any problem, especially technological ones, given his technophilia. I smile to think of his whistling on his way down the hallway to avoid startling me out of my chair when he knocked on my office door. Jon loved music and playing his cello, and I have fond memories of accompanying him (and one of his former students, who played the violin) on the piano at my house. Jon also played a mean harmonica! His gentle, quiet presence, wry humor, and sage advice will be greatly missed. —Assosciate Professor of Psychology Jennifer Borton Jon was a true gentleman who proved the value of being an engaged scholar in the classroom. His impact on the College curriculum and the lives of its students is palpable and enduring. And he was a good and genuine friend. —Maynard-Knox Professor of Government and Law Frank Anechiarico ’71 This is a terrible loss to the College, to his department, to his family. I’m so sad about Jon’s untimely death. —Professor of Religous Studies Heidi Ravven
What a loss—an immensely kind and honorable man, a valued leader, a dear soul. —Eugene M. Tobin Distinguished Professor of Sociology Dan Chambliss Jon was a deeply decent and kind human being. He represented the very best of Hamilton College and will be much missed. —Edgar B. Graves Professor of History Alfred Kelly I’ve known Jon since I joined the faculty in 1972. I’ve always admired him for his dedication, his integrity, and his generosity and kindness to colleagues and students alike. He represented the very best of Hamilton. —Edmund A. LeFevre Professor of English Emeritus John O’Neill Jon was a great friend to NECC. He was one of the Psychology faculty who worked hard to establish the innovative collaboration between Hamilton and NECC. He brought a group of students to visit NECC annually since 2001. More than 80 Hamilton undergrads have completed internships at NECC: taking courses and working directly with children with autism. Additionally, Jon helped us to recruit 41 graduates(17 here now). They have done well and Jon was a mentor to most of them. His influence lives on and extends well beyond the Hill. A good friend, fine teacher and true man of science. —L. Vincent Strully Jr. ’69
2 Students by Kirsty Warren ’18 News Writer
On Saturday, September 13, more than 150 Hamilton students took part in Make a Difference Day, sponsored by Hamilton Association for Volunteering Outreach and Charity (HAVOC), an event which served a total of 23 sites in the area. Service projects included clearing weeds and branches at Heritage Farm, sorting books at the Utica Public Library, cleaning cages, doing laundry and playing with cats at Spring Farm Cares animal shelter and spending time with nursing home residents at the Masonic Care Community. “It’s a really great opportunity to get as many people on campus as possible to volunteer all at the same time. There are students from all class years and it is open to everyone,” HAVOC Co-Director Emily Chan ’16 said. “It gathers a lot of attention because it’s not a humongous commitment -- you don’t have to go every week. And the sites really like having the Hamilton students there helping them out.” Make a Difference Day is HAVOC’s biggest service day of the year, according to Chan. It is slightly bigger than the spring semester’s Martin Luther King Day service project because the weather is better and there is outdoor work to do. Students can participate individually or in groups, and out-of-season sports teams, sororities and fraternities and groups of friends all signed up to volunteer together. It took four buses, one minibus, one jitney and two HAVOC cars to transport all the participants to sites in Utica, Rome, Clinton
get
NEWS September 18, 2014
involved
and Kirkland. Chan said Make a Difference Day is a great bonding activity for organizations, one that lets students bond and help the community at the same time. “You get to meet new people. You get to bond with the people you go on your trip with,” said HAVOC’s other director, James Hunter ’17. “Whenever I see people who were in my group on Martin’s Way, I always say
off-campus
way you can,” she said. “In my group, I had only ever met one person before and I had the greatest time with the other volunteers. We were able to share stories and enjoy the experience together.” Mahabir spent the day at Colonial Park Rehab and Nursing Center in Rome. “It was very touching talking to many of the elderly people and hearing their amazing
PHOTO BY AUDREY NADLER ’18
Students volunteered at 23 different sites for Make a Difference Day. hi to them because we shared that experience of going to a site and working together and doing some good work.” Nathalia Mahabir ’17 said the Make a Difference Day experience was rewarding before she even left campus. “It starts at school when you get together with other people who are on the same mission as you: to help the community in whatever
stories,” Mahabir said. “I personally met an old man who is a music producer, but surprisingly is also blind. Music is the way he sees the world. He gave me a CD and asked me to listen to it and then write him a letter telling him what I thought. I ensured that a nurse would be able to read it for him and I promised that I would soon send the letter. It was a very comforting feeling knowing that I could
spend three hours simply playing games and talking to the residents and they would have a smile on their face for the rest of the day.” Nicole Mion ’16 also went to a nursing home, the Hazel Carpenter Home for senior citizens in Oneida. “The most rewarding part was making these peoples’ days. I’ve spent a fair amount of time in assisted living or senior care homes because my grandma was in one, so I know that sometimes their routines can be fairly monotonous and mundane and events like this can honestly brighten their whole day or even week,” Mion said. “The best part was probably when we sang with them. It was hard to find songs we both knew but when we did, like ‘Amazing Grace,’ ‘You Are My Sunshine’ and ‘Oh Danny Boy,’ their faces just lit up.” Make a Difference Day was Chan and Hunter’s first major event as HAVOC directors. They began talking about dates last May and planning began in earnest in earlyAugust. They called sites in the area to see which ones needed volunteers and contacted organizations from last month’s first-year Hamilton Serves orientation event. Additionally, they coordinated bus routes, provided lunches for the volunteers and publicized Make a Difference Day. “We have students from all different parts of Hamilton College go out and explore the local communities,” Hunter said. “A lot of students might go their Hamilton month or their Hamilton year and just kind of stay on the Hill and not necessarily experience all the surroundings. I think Make a Difference Day does a great job in getting students off
Shelly Haley discusses racial history by Shannon O’Brien ’15 Senior Editor
On Thursday, September 11, students, faculty and staff crowded into the Red Pit to hear Professor of Classics and Africana Studies Shelley Haley speak about the history of diversity and inclusion at Hamilton College. The lecture gave insight into the College’s interactions with nonconformist students, students of color, female students and groups affiliated with issues of diversity. Haley prefaced her lecture by explaining, “It is very easy to suppress people from the past…who we don’t like.” She went on to state, “Histories are annihilated,” citing the lost identity of Sally Hemings and the misconstrued glorification of the Louisiana Purchase as examples. Haley pointed out that histories can also be misunderstood or forgotten at academic institutions. “We constantly reinvent the wheel, and old issues seem new,” she said. “This is what has happened with diversity and inclusion at Hamilton College.” Haley began her presentation on the history of diversity and inclusion at Hamilton by reading a passage from Publius Virgilius Rogers Professor of American History Maurice Isserman’s book On the Hill: A Bicentennial History of Hamilton College, which discusses the racial diversity of the Hamilton-Oneida Academy. However, this experiment in interracial education was not successful whatsoever. From its inception, the Hamilton-Oneida Academy struggled with cultural dif-
ferences: Haley explained that while Reverend Samuel Kirkland expected to be teaching men, Chief Skenandoa sent girls to the Academy, as he believed that women should be educated in order to be in charge of policy-making. After the Hamilton-Oneida Academy dissolved, the newly formed Hamilton College admitted very few people of color until the latter half of the 20th century. Even so, students were very involved in the abolition movement in the first part of the 19th century; Oneida County itself was known as a “hotbed” for abolitionism. Students’ activism was not received well, however. Haley read a document from the Library Archives highlighting how donors to the College threatened to stop providing funding if students continued to fight for the cause of abolition. Haley then read the March 2014 letter from Hamilton’s current Board of Trustees regarding divestment, in which the Trustees claimed that the College’s main objective is education, not activism or “ends other than academic,” because education is “a public good in itself.” As Haley stated after reading the 2014 letter, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Haley then discussed the lives of the few African American students who attended Hamilton in the late 19th and early 20th century. Joseph
Lee Spurlake, the first African American student to graduate from Hamilton, graduated in 1889. “When was Hamilton founded?” Haley asked. She then sarcastically answered, “You do the math.” When Spurlake’s picture was finally hung in the library in the late 20th century, students defaced it by taping a used sanitary napkin on it. The Class of 1923 admitted six African Americans, most likely because these men had served in World War I. “They did not have a happy time,” said Haley, who read a letter that two of the men had written to President Elihu Root. The students expressed their discontent with the racist attitudes of white students and faculty at the College. “We know that the entrance of four Negro students last year did not meet with the unanimous approval of the Faculty,” the letter, written by Roy A. Ellis, said. The letter went on to state, “We risked our lives for Democracy; we are American citizens, and are not to be insulted or ridiculed because of the unfortunate conditions of servitude of our forefathers or because of the hue of our skin.” As decades went on, attitudes toward diversity and inclusion improved. Haley showed the audience a Spectator article from 1960 with a frontpage headline titled “College Students Picket, Demonstrate Disapproval of Southern Segregation.” Students went
“It is very easy to suppress people from the past... who we don’t like.” —Shelley Haley
to Woolworth’s in Utica to protest their discriminatory practices toward African American customers. In 1970, the Higher Education Opportunities Program (HEOP) came to Hamilton, and in 1980, Phyllis Breland became the first woman of color to graduate from Hamilton. Breland went on to become both the first woman and woman of color class speaker, and she is now the Director of Opportunities Programs at the College. The 1990s and early 2000s brought a slew of cultural diversity groups to campus, including SHARP (Students at Hamilton Against Racism and Prejudice) and a campaign to get a cultural diversity center on campus, which resulted in what is now the Days-Massolo Center. Haley highlighted the efforts of The Movement and Divestment Club as continued diversity and inclusion activism on campus. In conclusion, Haley stated that Hamilton has come a very long way with diversity and inclusion issues, but “It’s what we do with that diversity and inclusion” that matters. She went on to tell the students in the audience, “You’re continuing in a very proud tradition. You should keep doing it,” because “grown-ups are scared…they don’t want to do it because, gee, it could hurt the endowment.” Haley’s lecture did not just give audience members insight into Hamilton’s history: her speech was also a rally for current students to reclaim the College’s troubled, racist and sexist past and harness the spirit of those dissenting groups that dared to challenge the College’s status quo.
NEWS
3
September 18, 2014
Roper discusses modern feminism By Mackenzie Doherty ’18
that I cannot agree with.” After extensively studying systems of privilege and the inter On Friday, September 12, the section of various feminist moveWo m y n ’s C e n t e r b r o u g h t D a n i - ments, Roper began to definitively elle Roper ’06 to the Hill to speak identify herself as a third-world about her personal experience with feminist. Also known as “postcolofeminism. Roper— sharp, funny nial feminism,” this sort of moveand fiercely passionate— spoke ment seeks to account for the way with students about intersectional- that racism and the long-lasting ity, misconceptions of the modern political, economic and cultural feminist movement, and her per- effects of colonialism affect nonsonal connection to third world white, non-Western women in the feminism. postcolonial world. Roper continually ex p r es s ed Roper was also seriously conthe importance of understanding cerned with the modern feminist movement, a movement that she described as full of contradiction. To illustrate her point, she showed the music video for Beyonce’s popular song “Flawless.” Beyonce does mean for the words and images in the video to empower women. This intention is made explicitly clear by her inclusion of a segment from a well-known feminist Ted Talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Yet there are some seriously questionable parts too: namely, her use of the term “bitches,” her perfectly calculated appearance and sexual references to Monica Lewinsky. While these things are misrepresentative of the goals of many radi cal modern-day feminists, Roper also conceded that feminism cannot continue to operate in the black and white terms it has been. If we polarize feminism too much, it becomes inaccessible and nearly unPHOTO BY BENJAMIN MITTMAN ’18 D a n i e l l e R o p e r ’ 0 6 , a “ t h i r d - a c h i e v a b l e . R a t h e r, s h e says that she “aspires to world” or “postcolonial” feminist a cross-cultural dialogue spoke over lunch in KJ last Friday between hip-hop feminism and third world feminism,” the matrix of oppression in which one that allows for a reconciliapeople live. She, being Jamaican, tion of these contradictions via a feminist, a woman and a lesbian, i n t e r- g r o u p c o m m u n i c a t i o n a n d had to actively work to overcome the sharing of ideas and solutions these overlapping levels of disad- to the problems of the oppressed vantage. She touched upon many that plague modern society. things that made this exceptionally Finally, as Roper neared the difficult for her to do, including end of her talk, she put specific emthe notion that only white women phasis on the matter of conceiving could be associated with the femi- of feminism in local terms rather nist movement, homophobia (both than in societal terms. She wanted at Hamilton and in her home coun- to make it clear that when people try) and resistance from her father, speak of tangibles rather than of a preacher. lofty concepts, understanding and “Feminism gave me the lan- agreement come readily, and the guage through which I could in- flow of conversation focuses on terpret myself,” Roper explained. concrete example rather than mem Upon arriving at Hamilton she orized terms and events. “Lived began to take Women’s Studies experiences are far more important courses and actively participate in than quotes or academic texts or the Womyn’s Center here at Hamil- ten thousand articles,” she said. ton, a group that meets regularly to “Civil discourse is important.” discuss gender and sexuality, and As her lecture began to wind plans multiple events throughout down, Roper welcomed questions the academic year. and thoughts on any of the topics “I realized that there were forms covered. Students freely voiced of feminism I love and forms of their personal thoughts and opinfeminism that I just can’t subscribe ions, often drawing on knowledge to. A kind of feminism that does not from prior class discussions and factor in race is a kind of feminism occurrences in their personal lives. News Writer
NESCAC
NEWS by Kirsty Warren ’18 News Writer
Colby College inaugurates 20th president David A. Greene became the 20th president of Colby College on Saturday Sept. 13. “It is our time to commit to the highest level of support for our faculty, students, and staff, and to have unwavering focus on the excellence of our programs; it is our time to fully open our campus to the greatest diversity of perspectives; it is our time to make the liberal arts more integrated with the world beyond our campus,” Greene said in his inaugural address. Greene, a former administrator at the University of Chicago, discussed the challenges faced by institutions of higher learning, including high costs and declining governmental support. “It is hard to be anything but optimistic about Colby’s future when surrounded by so many people I admire and respect – the Board of Trustees, the incredible faculty, the students and alumni of Colby College, and the supportive civic leadership of the people in this region,” Greene said.
Wesleyan bans students from off-campus fraternity house Wesleyan University students were forbidden from visiting the Beta Theta Pi fraternity house after a sophomore was seriously injured in a fall from a third-story window, according to the Hartford Courant. In an email last week, university officials declared that the fraternity house would be off-limits from Sept. 15 onwards. Last week’s accident was not the fraternity’s first conflict with the university. Previous incidents include sexual assault lawsuits. “We have lost confidence in the ability of the fraternity members to manage social and residential activities at the house and abide by university policies,” said the email signed by President Michael Roth and Vice President for Student Affairs Michael Whaley. “Wesleyan has an obligation to do what it reasonably can to ensure the safety of every member of the community, including the Beta fraternity members and their guests.”
Connecticut College reaches out through Opportunity Network Connecticut College partnered with The Opportunity Network, a program dedicated to leveling the playing field for underrepresented New York City public school students applying to colleges. “This partnership ensures that our students will get the guidance they need from the moment they begin considering Connecticut College until the day they accept their diplomas and join the robust alumni network,” Opportunity Network CEO Jessica Pliska said in an article on the Connecticut College website. “At the same time, Connecticut College gains access to some of the best and brightest students in New York City.” The partnership, formalized last week, made Connecticut College the first in New England and the second nationally to officially partner with The Opportunity Network. “Without this connection, we might never have had these students in our prospect or applicant pool. We look forward to further enhancing our relationship and welcoming more OppNet students to Connecticut College in the coming years,” Dean of Admission and Financial Aid Martha Merrill said.
4
EDITORIAL September 18, 2014
How to actually “Make a Difference” In last week’s NESCAC News column, The Spectator noted that on September 6, more than 700 Trinity students participated in the college’s “Do It Day.” On this day, Trinity students volunteer their time and services throughout the city of Hartford, Conn. Hamilton’s annual version of Do It Day, called “Make a Difference Day,” occurred this past weekend, on Saturday, Sept. 13. Like Trinity’s event, Hamilton students volunteer at various sites throughout the local Mohawk Valley community. While one should always use caution in comparing two different events at two different schools, the events and the schools are undoubtedly similar. The one striking difference between the two events, however, is that Trinity’s event receiving an overwhelming outpouring of support, while Hamilton’s received a meager turnout of around 150 people giving up a few hours of their Saturday to volunteer. Though we recognize and applaud the efforts of the students who did participate, The Spectator would like to point out that in order to “Make a Difference,” there needs to actually be a student body willing to make a difference. There is often talk about the relationship, or lack thereof, between the College and the greater community. One of the ways in which we as a student body can improve or—even better, build—a relationship is by volunteering in the community in which we now reside. Students at Hamilton College often complain that there are not enough things to do in the area surrounding Hamilton, but this is a shortsighted view. The Mohawk Valley may not be as bustling as cities such as New York or Boston, but like all cities and towns throughout America and around the world, there are always ways to get involved in community service. Let’s face it, there are more meaningful things to do off the Hill than just going to the VT, Dunkin Donuts and Mitsuba. So what can we do? There’s no excuse; there are plenty of resources here on campus that you can use to find an activity that best suits you. For example, HAVOC is dedicated to placing students with volunteering outfits in the community. There are also other organizations you can get involved with such as Project SHINE in Utica (to help refugees learn English) or America Reads (to teach second graders at a Utica elementary school how to read). If you would prefer to stay on campus, there is also the Sidekicks organization that is a great way to help give younger kids a role model to look up to, or Study Buddies, an on-campus tutoring opportunity. Regardless of what you are interested in, there is an organization that you can volunteer with. Trinity College cites the dedication of its athletic groups and Greek organizations for donating their time volunteering on their “Do It Day.” We encourage that same participation of not just our athletic groups and Greek organizations, which do tend to do a good job of volunteering in the community, but also of other on-campus organizations. If we all pitch in, we truly can make a difference in our community.
The Spectator editorial represents the opinions of the majority of the editorial board. It is not necessarily unanimously agreed upon.
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OPINION
5
September 18, 2014
Rand Paul’s planned abolishment of Education Department could change financial aid by Gracie Hochberg ’18 Opinion Contributor
Every time I read or hear about Republican Rand Paul’s current political campaign for the 2016 election, all I can remember is the first time I drove on the interstate. I careened in and out of lanes at 35 miles per hour as every other vehicle on the road honked and swerved in a desperate attempt to avoid what probably looked like reckless driving. Rand Paul has managed to do the same with his political policies. The most recent example is his change of view on the terror group ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria). On June 19, he published an opinion piece entitled, “America Shouldn’t Choose Sides in Iraq’s Civil War,”in which he chastised President Obama for putting “boots on the ground” and emphasized his disapproval of the airstrikes of which many Americans are in favor. On a later day, according to Daniel Greenfield, he admitted openly that he had the same strategy for tackling ISIS as Obama does. Like my Subaru on the highway, reckless policies have the power to hit everyone. Even Hamilton can feel the effect of a political vision casting around for a way to stand out. For instance, Rand Paul’s plan to entirely abolish the US Department of Education would could be detrimental to future and current students on the Hill alike. What is billed as an attempt to decentralize educational policies would have a real effect on who would be able to attend Hamilton. The Department of Education works to improve the public education system, provide financial aid, and forgive student loans. Therefore, students unable to afford Hamilton College’s $240,000 four-year fee may find themselves at a severe disadvantage. And those who remain would find themselves in a less diverse environment. The inability of some academically talented but less wealthy students to attend Hamilton would lower the overall quality of the student body. The Office of Admissions would be forced to fill the spots of lower income students with less deserving but wealthier ones. Therefore, the value of a Hamilton degree would decrease, which would hurt the ability of graduates to find prestigious internships and jobs. Furthermore, by giving less wealthy students the chance to study at top schools like Hamilton, the ED helps foster a national culture of equality and economic mobility. According to the College Board, educated individuals
BRIIETBART.COM
Rand Paul’s plans to downsize several US government departments could have a rippling effect at Hamilton.
“Students unable to afford Hamilton’s four year fee... may find themselves at a severe disadvantage. And for those who remain, they would find themselves in a less diverse, environment.” tend to smoke less, commit fewer crimes, and volunteer more. Thus, a more highly educated society is in everyone’s best interest and the ED helps make this goal a reality by increasing the number of citizens who can obtain higher education. Consequently, Rand Paul’s policies, though unique, could radically alter the Hamilton community and other institutions.
Thumbs Up
Thumbs Down
Helping Hands Knitting Club: Because the wandering hands knitting club got a little weird.
Everyone is sick: weekend hook ups are a one time thing, but the bacterial infections they breed will last until you graduate.
Humans vs Zombies: also known as college students vs. jackasses throwing socks in the KJ Atrium. 46 Peaks Weekend sign ups: for those of you who fear you peaked in high school.
Solar Flare: THE RAPTURE IS NIGH! Quick, to Bundy to drink the Kool-Aid (Jungle Juice)! Utica Buzz in Commons: Opus must spike its coffee with Adderall to compete.
Who Cares? Never Diet Again presentation: a senior thesis on the Howard Diner. First Social Traditions meeting: good if you want to bring back traditions like the Citrus Bowl; bad if you want to bring back dueling. Fall snacks: Maybe your fairy godmother will turn your pumpkin spice latte into a late-night Jitney!
by Shea Crockett ’15 and Wynn Van Dusen ’15 Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are purely of a satirical nature, and are not representative of the views of The Spectator editorial board.
6
OPINION September 18, 2014
Anonymity and intimacy of Yik Yak will create a malicious community by Kevin Welsh ’15 Opinion Writer
Before I start chiding Yik Yak let me begin by saying I think that the Internet is the greatest invention in the history of mankind and that social media in general is one of its best manifestations. I adore the opportunity to engage and express afforded by different platforms, and I think it is a necessary
and healthy part of our society. But I have to draw the line somewhere. On a theoretical level I understand both the function and the appeal of Yik Yak. Open forums have often times been the primary source of political and social change. Except that is not what Yik Yak is for, which is where its alternative appeal comes in. Yik Yak is about making funny and occasionally snide observations, and it comes complete with a captive, frequent audience. I can understand why it is a fun app. But like all tools, any negative consequences are the fault of the user, not the tool itself. Yik Yak is nothing without its users. Where I see a potential problem with Yik Yak, though, is the effects it will have on both its active and passive users. The active users are helping perpetuate a new, potentially dangerous culture and the passive ones are feeding into the system. The active users of Yik Yak are doing exactly what all Internet users do: they are creating a culture and a community. The Internet is a sort of meta-dimension of reality that serves as a Wild West for
of Youtube comments and you will see what I mean. Yik Yak is just another new forum for expression without any real rules, but some of its qualities certainly heighten potential problems. First is the anonymity. No one accountable for what they say. You can spew, slander and falsify all you want about any-
one or anything with no accountability for it. Harmless comments about papers are treated as seriously as malicious comments about people. I think this problem is obvious enough. Second is the intimacy. Since YikYak is geographically based, th e comments left there are accessible to an audience with an all too familiar knowledge of what the writer is referring to. Sometimes it is just Commons food or fickle weather, but what happens when names get dropped and specific identifiers are mentioned? On a campus of 2,000 people, even if you don’t know the subject you are only two degrees away from them, and gossip is just as sweet when it is about strangers. There is a potent chance for defamation when a single comment can reach everyone instantaneously. The passive effects can be even more insidious though. Passive users are the manpower behind a movement that gives it a real sense of credibility. Without an audience to validate the
member of this cycle. Talking about Yik Yak lets other people know that you use it and approve of its good and bad sides. The tacit approval from downloading the app and glancing at it between classes is enough to inspire courage in the writers. And when a group builds enough confidence that its actions and existence are
real and important it can go anywhere. It has legs to stand on and it can evolve or devolve rapidly. The latter scares me more. Look at Hamilton Secrets. I do not know what the founders were intending when they began, but how long did it take for it to descend into rude comments, anonymous cat fights, and endless barrages of hateful rhetoric? Not long. And how did people get ballsy enough to start writing such spew? Because someone else had done it first, and people liked it, people commented on it and even just people talking about it the next day was enough to inspire further nasty, unsolicited remarks. The users created a malicious community nearly overnight. An
performance, the performance itself is in some ways rejected via apathy. But when there are hundreds of affirming votes and approving users, there is enough positive feedback to transform one person’s output into the basis for an entire group’s new behavior. Passive viewers fuel the minority of actors with their presence alone. And you don’t even have to actually reply or vote to be a
about our collective right to privacy. Tumblr is a progressive, fascinating forum for speech and discourse, but what happens when anonymous people begin harassing the users?
Like I said, the Internet is a constantly new dimension of the human experience, but despite all its joyful, hopeful and free outlets, someone has to try and be a sheriff or sorts. I think rules that ensure a safe, accountable, new communities are important and that some of those places already exist in the virtual world. The Internet is the ultimate tool, so it is only as good as its
myriad users. In a communal sphere where nothing is prohibited, it is all on the group to foster a healthy culture. If they do not try then a culture of disrespect and malice may form instead, and we jeopardize the quality of the greatest gift that we all have.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY LUCAS PHILLIPS ’16
n o l u m ce c n n p i n i os t h e c h a i n t O T h i s s t u de n t i r v i e w p o n t g i v e s p re s s t h e i m p o r t a i l l . to e x r a n g e o f of f t he H @ o n a o n a n d o ns t o spe c i s s u e sc o n t r i b u t i S e n d t o n .e du h am i l
“You can spew, slander and falsify all you want about anyone or anything with no accountability for it.” its users where the constructs of presentation and position are stripped away and anyone can become anything. Since the dawn of forums and chatrooms, the Internet has allowed people to be who they want, but more importantly to create the worlds they want. They create spaces for discussion, reflection, collaboration and expression, but not without a few hiccups. Just read a couple
a life long Internet citizen and passionate defender of its values, I feel compelled to look down the road on some of its latest attractions and try to assess and explain where I think things will go wrong. Google is a wonderful search engine and very successful company— but someone had to start asking
online community is a powerful tool. It can be a safe space for open speech—or a dark crawl space of loathed people. I know I am being alarmist. Looking through Yik --Yak today revealed nothing offensive or even mean spirited. It was pretty funny actually. But as
Sex
In A
FEATURES
and
defense
response
by Kate Cieplicki ’16 Features Columnist
This column covers both silly and serious topics about sex and dating from the perspective of a poetry-loving, feminist psychology major. For topic suggestions, questions or other perspectives on sex in college, please email kcieplic@hamilton.edu. Dear Brandon, Thank you for your response to my article, “The Freshman’s Guide to Getting Some (Respect)” and, specifically, for making the important point that some hook-ups take “sincere” interest in each other. It is true that pre-hook-up, many people do take the time to get to know each other “over a beer” as you suggested. I agree that such conversations make for a better sexual experience. In fact, I would argue that all hook-ups should involve talking, at least to ensure consent and at best to make both people more comfortable with each other. Some hook-ups walk away friends and some even end up dating. I must, however, question the sincerity of a conversation that happens before the standard random hook-up. Yes, maybe someone is interested in someone else’s personality and genuinely wants to meet
to
last
September 18, 2014
of
the
using
w e e k ’s
them. But is the darkness of the Bundy dining hall really the best place to meet future friends? Is that really why most people go to parties? Maybe. But to me, if someone strikes up a conversation at a certain hour of the night, chances are their motivation is less than sincere. We seem to be in agreement that hooking-up can be fun and healthy, but I again want to argue that it is fun and healthy only when approached as a selfish act. You are hooking-up because you want to get some. Any sort of friendship that comes out of the hook-up is a bonus, but not the goal of the hook-up. Hookingup becomes stressful and disappointing when one or both parties think the other wants to get into their pants because of their extensive knowledge of Proust and vegetarian cuisine. That’s just not the way it is. Of course, interest in a person drives a good hook-up. But hooking-up is the goal a majority of the time in these situations, the person being interesting is just a bonus. You do, however, bring up an interesting point: Are hook-ups always as selfish as I’m implying, or am I just cynical? Is there a situation when two hook-ups do care about each other? Take “friends with benefits” for instance, an important aspect of college dating that I excluded from my previous article. For what many college students are looking for, this is the perfect arrangement. They have a stable source of
7
Campu s
Letter
caution to
sexual satisfaction without the time, energy and potential heart-break that comes with a full-fledged relationship. This is a person with whom they share similar interests and are comfortable with but, for whatever reason, don’t want to date. Perhaps this is the place where that sincere interest can really flourish. With consistent sexual intimacy, I would imagine that a sort of fondness for that friend develops. Would you take care of a sick one-night hook-up? Probably not. But a more consistent “friends with benefits?” maybe. But wait, when talked about that way “friends with benefits” starts to sound an awful lot like a relationship only, as stated above, without the commitment to be faithful. Therefore, it is still selfish and needs to be selfish in the eyes of both parties. As popular culture has shown us, however, this selfish attitude is a difficult one to maintain. Remember Justin and Mila (Friends with Benefits), Ashton and Natalie (No Strings Attached)? In the archetypal “friends with benefits” storyline, two impossibly attractive people start out as friends, then start casually sleeping together. Then, against their better judgement, one falls for the other. And what do you know? The other falls for them too. The end. Unfortunately, things don’t always work out that well in real life. With each hook-up, the expectation that someone is sincerely interested increases. So
the
:
Editor
does the risk of romantic feelings growing. “Friends with benefits,” though it may seem as though it would cultivate sincere interest, really just increases the potential for heartbreak and misunderstandings. The very nature of hooking-up does not allow for sincerity because it is only fun if you’re putting yourself above the other person. Life isn’t a rom com. I therefore appreciate your feedback but stand by my argument that hook-ups don’t (and shouldn’t) care about each other on a very deep level. Of course respect is essential, and mutual interests are preferred. Until you are both committed to each other in an exclusive relationship, however, it’s too dangerous to develop those feelings. Hooking-up and “friends with benefits” are both activities that benefit the self. They satisfy you sexually and you are engaging with another person for your own gain. You can be interested in what a person is saying and still, at the end of the day, value yourself more. In a relationship, things change and suddenly you are expected to put the other person first and trust them with your feelings. Both hooking-up and relationships are valid expressions of sexuality, particularly in college, but realistic expectations for both can save you from heartache and unrealistic expectations. Send feedback, comments and questions to kcieplic or spec@hamilton.edu.
Fall Recipes: Gerard Pozzi’s Creamed Garlic Spinach by Gerard Pozzi ’18 Features Contributor
Ingredients: 20 oz. fresh spinach 3 tbsp. salted butter 1 tbsp. minced garlic (I prefer using whole cloves, but minced is what the recipe calls for) 1 tbsp. all-purpose flour 3/4 cup heavy cream 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
Directions:
OKITCHENMYKITCHEN.BLOGSPOT.COM
1. Wash spinach and put it in a pot with a little salted water. 2. Cook the spinach for about two minutes. 3. Strain spinach and put it back in the pot. 4. Melt butter in a medium sauté pan. 5. Add garlic and cook until it’s soft. 6. Add flour and whisk under medium heat. 7. Whisk until mixture is smooth and add it to spinach pot. 8. Gradually add heavy cream and mix it into the spinach. 9. Add nutmeg, salt and pepper. 10. Enjoy! If you like this recipe, feel free to check out my blog at www.scrumptiouswords.
MEATLESSMEALSFORMEATEATERS.BLOGSPOT.COM
FEATURES
8
n e B h t i Pub w e l t t s i L r e at Th Bee
by Ben Fields ’15
Senior Managing Editor
“Beers with Ben” features various members of the Hamilton faculty in off-the-cuff interviews at the Little Pub. This week features Director of Diversity and Inclusion Amit Taneja, drinking an Ommegang Hennepin. Why Hamilton? So, I had mostly worked at large schools, and my best friend from grad school is Travis Hill. He came here right after grad school, and I went to Syracuse University, and I had come up a couple of times—I think I saw Bill Cosby for Great Names—and I came here, and I really thought it was a cool looking space, but my undergrad was 40,000 students, so I could not imagine what a school like 1,800—like what is it a high school?—I didn’t understand that. And then, I wasn’t really in the market, but Travis called and told me about the job. My mentor, now a dean at a different liberal arts college, he called and told me about the job. And, Meredith Bonham is in the same doctoral program, and she called me. None of them had talked to one another, I’m like, there’s something happening in the universe that’s telling me to look, and I came here and fell in love with the place, and it’s been great so far. What is your least favorite thing about humanity? Hmm. Snooki [laughs] can I say that? I’m gonna say that, Snooki, and everything that Snooki represents. Not my people. Whatisyourfavoritethingabouthumanity? That’s a good one. Random acts of kindness. It’s not often that I see it, but every once in a while, you know, it happens. That, and gardeners. People who can grow stuff and make beauty come out of the earth are pretty incredible people. Mostly because I kill all of my plants...I’m learning. Have you ever been offered a bribe? Oh, yes. I’ll tell you the story, too. When I worked at a different institution, I used to hear judicial cases, and this one student—he actually tried a few different tactics. The first one was, ‘Do you know who my dad is?’ and it ended with,‘Well how much is this going to take for this to go away?’I did not take the bribe.
September 18, 2014
What would you do if you didn’t do what you do? I would DJ, absolutely. So, when I was an undergrad, I kinda just fell in love with that whole act of DJing, the DJ scene. I could be having the worst day of my life, and then I’d just get on my turn tables and the tactile—DJing doesn’t look like that now, cause it’s all electronic— but, touching the vinyl and manipulating the music, being in control of the energy of the crowd and knowing how to manipulate it, I love doing that. So, after college—I had a decent following in Vancouver—I was actually charging good money, but DJ gigs only come on the weekends. So, I was like, ‘Do I do this grad school thing or do I live my life out of travel suitcases and try to do the DJ thing?’ There’s days I still want to go back to it, I mean I still do it, but just for fun. Do you have a favorite Disney character? I grew up in India, and I didn’t really grow up around Disney as much. Is Donald Duck technically Disney? Okay, I’m gonna go with Donald Duck, that’s just what was familiar. I used to like a lot of Disney stuff, and then I took a lot of Women’s Studies classes, and then I started looking at stuff more critically. And I realized, ‘Wow, there’s really a lot of messed up messaging in these movies.’ So, but I can still [enjoy them]. I watch Frozen, that was pretty awesome. If you could have any celebrity as your best friend, who would it be? There’s a few people who come to mind. I’d go with Jon Stewart, he seems like a guy I would like to have a beer with. And you could hang out with him and have fun, or you could talk serious or just be goofy. When you were in college, on average how much beer did you drink? So, I went to undergrad in Canada, and we had 11 alcohol serving establishments on campus, ’cause the drinking age is 19. So, first year and a half, almost nothing...then I found beer. I was a pretty responsible drinker, but work hard, play hard happens sometimes. Salt or pepper? Hmmm. Paprika. [Laughs] Describe yourself in three words? Funny, charming, contemplative. I think that kinda gets my overall personality. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
Ooo. I grew up—now you have to understand, economically, things are very different in India—my parents said, ‘You can be anything you want when you grow up,’and by anything they meant doctor, lawyer, engineer, and if I really wanted to bring shame on the family, a businessman. So I wanted to be an engineer. I was always good at math and science, but I didn’t like the careers that they led to. I did my first two years in engineering, but then I was like, ‘Not for me.’ Every engineer I met I wanted to just be like, ‘Oh, I would kill myself if I had to live your life.’ [laughs] You can put that in there, if you want. If you had to pick any Hamilton faculty member to sing karaoke with, who would it be and why? I would go with [Associate Dean of Faculty] Margaret Gentry. She’s one of my all-time favorite people, and I just realized I never had a beer with her before, so maybe I have to do this with her next week. Do you have a favorite superhero and would you dress up as them for a day of work? Uh yes! I would be Superman. I like the idea of flying away, stopping time. Superman, absolutely. Would I dress up? Yeah, absolutely. So, if I swing by the DMC on Halloween? Yeah, you might see Superman. Why Halloween? Why wait? If you could speak to any world leader, past or present, who would it be?
What would you change about Hamilton? If I had a magic wand? I’m trying to think, there’s a few things I would change. Probably the number one thing I would change if I had a magic wand, I would work to make us a no-loan school. But that’s not the answer I want to give, ’cause we do really well with that part. I think I would like to build a whole program that encourages inter-group dialogue. I think we do some of that right now, but that’s really my big wish. If they were to make a biopic about yourlife, who would you want to play you and why? Not Kumar. I’ll go with that. Oh my god, what’s his name? George Clooney. I think he, maybe doing the things he does, he’s maybe a celebrity, ’cause he does pretty interesting stuff with his celebrity status, so, he’s an artist who I think wouldn’t have to extend himself too much to get into my world sphere. You know the way I experience the world. It wouldn’t feel like someone was acting too much. Do you have a favorite movie? Yeah, Sound of Music. I think I can pretty much recite it. Along the same note, do you have a favorite musical? Is it the same?
My mind goes in like fifty-million different directions. The funny part of me wants to be like, ‘I’d say to Gorbachev, ‘knock down this wall.’ The person who keeps coming back to my mind would be Gandhi. I’ve been really thinking about what he did was so incredible, and what I’d probably say would be, ‘Teach me.’I wanna learn the practice of non-violence resistance.
Well it’s hard for me to nail one down because my partner is off-the-charts, like he lives for Broadway. If I go home tonight, I guarantee you he’ll be on Broadway.com and he’ll be like ‘Oh my god, let me tell you what happened to Audra McDonald today.’ And I love him for it. To see a musical live, Rent and Avenue Q would be tied for me. I know they’re somewhat cliché, but I also think they’re very cool when they came out.
What word from the English language would you remove?
Do you have a favorite curse word?
Putrid. Just the thought of it makes me want to throw up.
Yes...[laughs] oh you want the word? It’s the f-word, the f-bomb. I would print it as the f-bomb.
If you could live in any dorm on campus, where would you live?
Sound you particularly love?
It would definitely be dark side. Probably Root. I think it’s like close to Opus and Wellin, and I like hanging out on that side, not that I don’t like the light side, but yeah, Root. And I hear they have good parties? Where would you have your office if you could have it anywhere on campus? I’ve had the option. I absolutely love the Barn. Some of my favorite Hamilton memories are in the Barn, so I would totally vote for taking the Barn. If you could go back in time to any era, when and where would you go? I’ve always been fascinated by that whole civil rights, Vietnam, hippy, make love not war era. But I would go to a large city. So as long as I could pick my city, yeah. What city would you pick? Probably somewhere West Coast, San Fran. Or maybe even New York. If you could tear down any building on campus and rebuild it, which would it be?
PHOTO BY BEN MITTMAN ’18
I would totally do that. I’m sure it would cost money though.
I would probably...I would say the Diner side. I love the Diner, but I would build a big student center, just extend what we have on this side. I love this side, but that side doesn’t have the character. And, this would be totally crazy, but if you could build a glass floor over the ravine,
My cat purring. Sound you hate? Have you ever heard a fox in heat? Never. It sounds like someone’s being murdered. So yes, a fox in heat. Google it, it’s quite awful. If heaven exists, what do you want St. Peter/God to say to you? Go back, your work is not done. ’Cause, that would mean I’d come back to life. And what do you think he would actually say? I haven’t thought about that. I’m hoping it would be, ‘Welcome,’but I’m saying that trepidatiously. Three things on a desert island? DJ equipment, deodorant and an iPad. I’m assuming I have wifi connection if I have food. How honest are you? [Laughs] I’m trying to think of a funny response. Never. Somewhere between never and always. And how many times have you lied to me throughout this interview? Uh. [laughs] what time did we start talking? Have you ever killed a man just to watch him die? No. But I’ve thought about it.
FEATURES September 18, 2014
9
Exploring new clubs on campus compiled by Sarah Rahman ’16 Features Editor
Hamilton College Vegan & Animal Rights Coalition Nicole LaBarge ’15
This organization is a place for those who practice veganism, vegetarianism or are interested in promoting the well-being of animals. They can come together to share recipes, learn from each other and discuss the many challenges of eliminating animal products from one’s lifestyle. This fall is the club’s first official semester of operation, and it is looking to get as many people involved as it possibly can. Our meetings are held on Saturdays at 1 p.m. in the Sun Porch, and all are welcome, including those who are not vegans or vegetarians. Hopeful events for the semester include potlucks, field trips, cooking competitions and more! Whatever your reasons for being vegan, vegetarian or even if you’re neither, the Hamilton College Vegan & Animal Rights Coalition hopes you will help us make this a great first semester!
Helping Hands By Helen Park ’17 Our club is a community service knitting and crocheting group. We knit and crochet squares to sew together into blankets to donate to local groups in need. With that we want to provide a relaxing and close-knit (pun intended) atmosphere, a stimulating and alternative break from school life and a way to give back to the community.
HAAND By Olivia Surgent ’17 HAAND (Hamilton Autism Advocates for Neurodiversity) is a new club on campus that strives to promote acceptance of neurodiversity specifically through the lens of Autism Spectrum Disorder. We plan to do this by raising awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorder, generating funds for ASD research and volunteering directly with autistic individuals in the surrounding Clinton area. In addition to events and discussions we plan to hold on campus, we are partnering with the local Autism non-profit, the Kelberman Center (founded by Michael Kelberman—Hamition ’80 grad) to bring a group of autistic children and young adults to the Hamilton campus for weekly Saturday morning activities!
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT September 18, 2014
F.I.L.M. series continues to showcase unique voices in film by Brian Burns ’17 Arts & Entertainment Editor Forum on Image and Language in Motion (F.I.L.M.) will celebrate its 10th year as a Hamilton institution this fall by continuing its tradition of showing unique and over-looked films for free to students and faculty, as well as the general public. “These are films you are just not going to find your way to,” said F.I.L.M. programmer and Professor Scott MacDonald, who was honored as an Academy Film Scholar in 2012. MacDonald believes that film should be a “nexus” for a college campus, for it “incorporates both science and art.” “College is this golden moment in which you have the chance to immerse yourself in film,” said MacDonald. “It would be a shame not to experience that.” This year, F.I.L.M. will resume in the spring with a new slate of films.
IU.EDU
The samurai film Orochi will be a part of the Benshi event on Sept. 28.
9/21 The Iron Ministry (2014) with director John Paul Sniadecki Filmmaker J.P. Sniadecki returns to F.I.L.M. for the fourth time with a documentary centered on the Chinese national railroad system. The film is being shown at Hamilton before its official American premiere at the New
Leviathan fame, as well as the directors of Manakamana, Stephanie Spray and Pacho Velez). Sniadecki, who has a Ph.D. from Harvard, was fully immersed in Chinese culture as he filmed on different trains throughout the country. “Even the Chinese think he speaks good Chinese,” said MacDonald. The film also harkens back to a filmmaking tradition. “Cinema and locomotives have always had a close connection,” MacDonald said. 9/28 Benshi event with benshi Ichiro Kataoka, composed by Gabriel Thibaudeau and musicians from Japan, Canada, and France This event in collaboration with Associate Professor of Japanese Kyoko Omori will explore a unique facet of Japanese culture in the early 20th century. Benshi performers are a Japanese tradition dating back to the silent film era, as professionals performed alongside films providing narration and dialogue. “Performers became quite famous themselves,” said MacDonald. First, Ichiro Kataoka, Gabriel Thibaudeau and other musicians will accompany Buntarō Futagawa’s 1925 samurai film Orochi with a work-inprogress score. The night’s event will continue with a viewing of a documentary from ESL students at Utica’s Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees and Hamilton students, which will also feature Benshi performances by Hamilton students. 10/12 Gasland II (2014) with Josh Fox The sequel to the Oscar-nominated 2010 film Gasland, which was at the forefront of the debate over hydraulic fracking, Gasland II continues to investigate the environmental dangers of this practice for retrieving energy. MacDonald described director Josh Fox as a “political performance artist,” also conveying that the subject of fracking as the “biggest environmental issue in New York state right now.” “Fox’s stuff has had a real impact – it’s unusual for a film to matter, but
THEHOLLYWOODREPORTER.COM
B r e a k i n g t h e F r a m e e x p l o re s t h e r a d i c a l w o r k o f p e rformance artist and filmmaker Carolee Schneemann. York Film Festival. Sniadecki, a professor of film at Cornell University, was a member of Harvard’s Sensory Ethnography Lab (a program which also produced filmmakers such as Verena Paravel and Lucien Castain-Taylor of
I think it has mattered,” said MacDonald. The event is co-sponsored by the Environmental Studies Department. 10/26 Psychedelic Cinema Orchestra with Ken Brown Films
THEHOLLYWOODREPORTER.COM
The Iron Ministry will premiere at Hamilton ahead of its official American premiere at the New York Film Festival. MacDonald describes the Psychedelic Cinema Orchestra as “something completely different from anything we’ve had before.” Ken Brown’s films were projected behind rock bands and artists such as Jimi Hendrix and B.B. King at the rock club Boston Teaparty. Now, the films have been rediscovered, and given a new score. Ken Winokur of the Alloy Orchestra (a group which has a history with F.I.L.M.) is among the musicians who assisted in the creation of the new musical accompaniment and will perform it live on Oct. 26, along with Jonathan LaMaster (Cul de Sac) and Dana Coley (Morphine). See http://vimeo. com/93166266 for a glimpse of Ken Brown’s films.
toriety in the performance art world in the mid-sixties. “When people satire performance art, they tend to satire what Carolee did,” said MacDonald. She was responsible for the film Fuses, a motion picture so explicit in its depiction of human sexuality that it could not be shown in the United States. Marielle Nito-
11/2 The Specialist (1999) presented by ONECUTONELIFE.COM Scott MacDonald One Cut, One Life is a film about mortality co MacDonald dis- directed by ailing filmmaker Ed Pincus (pictured). covered The Specialist at the annual Robert Flaherty film semi- slawska’s film provides a history of nar, and specifically chose to present Carolee’s often-controversial work. the film. Directed by Anti-Zionist Is- Both Nitoslawska and Schneeman will raeli Eyal Sivan, MacDonald described be present for the film. it as a “courageous” film by a “courageous” filmmaker. The film documents 12/4 One Cut, One Life (2014) with the 1961 trial of Nazi lietunant colonel Lucia Small and one of the men behind the Holo- Also premiering at the New York caust, Adolf Eichman, through video Film Festival is One Cut, One Life, a records of Eichman himself. “I think collaboration between Ed Pincus and it’s a one of a kind look at a crucial Lucia Small. Described by MacDonald Nazi figure. You can make your own as “a film about dying,” the film was judgments about what kind of person inspired by documentary filmmaker this was and why he was successful at Pincus’ own diagnosis with a virulent what he did,” said MacDonald. “Sivan’s form of leukemia in 2012. Pincus, point of view is that normal people are the director of such films as the civil the real danger, not monstrous people.” rights documentary Black Natchez and MacDonald wrote to Israel to get the a documentary about his open marriage rights to show the film in the United called Diaries (1971-1976), was a pioStates. neer of the cinema verite movement. He took a long hiatus from filmmaking be11/16 Breaking the Frame (2013) with fore making the film The Axe in the AtCarolee Schneemann and Marielle tic, about Hurricane Katrina, with Lucia Nitoslawska Small in 2007. Pincus, sadly, died in “How do you describe her?” Profes- 2013. However, his co-director Lucia sor MacDonald wondered aloud about Small will be present for the viewing Carolee Schneeman, the subject of of his final film. the documentary Breaking the Frame. Schneeman first gained fame and no-
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT September 18, 2014
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Self-conducted chamber orchestra, A Far Cry, delights Wellin Hall by Ben Schafer ’17 Arts & Entertainment Contributor On Saturday, Sept. 13, Wellin Hall hosted A Far Cry, a world-renowned chamber orchestra featuring an innovative structure of on-stage leadership. Founded in 2007, the orchestra presented arrangements of works by Adés, Shostakovichs and Janáček. The program order served to highlight the latter piece, “Idyll” for string orchestra, a full and flowing work that contrasted with the darker and sharper ones. Violinist Anne Rabbat introduced the orchestra and explained the unique system of self-conduction that gives the orchestra personality and vibrancy. Members of the orchestra shifted positions between pieces, with the principal players for each section changing between selections. Frequent eye contact among all players allowed the orchestra to begin and end pieces without a conductor. The unspoken communication among principals established the tempo, which could be both seen and heard by the audience. Rabbat organized the order of the program to create a story, a “return to the Idyll” from two pieces that represent “vanishing or vanished ‘idylls.’” Musical tone shifted from disconnected and confused, to threatening and chaotic to an expressive mix of joyous and elegiac. Performed first was “Arcadiana” by Thomas Adés, arranged for string orchestra by A Far Cry. The frequency of sliding string figures and lack of melodic unity among sections produced a feeling of instability and insecurity among listeners. Even within sections, players
could shift from dormant to active in a matter of seconds, often without their fellow players playing in harmony. The audible detachment among parts was bridged in a particularly touching middle movement, which felt like a mellow lull in a context of confusion. While certainly not a grandiose, overwhelming or intimidating first piece, it opened the door
young, energetic and revered player who has appeared alongside the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic and the BBC Philharmonic, to name a few. Active in the chamber music scene, he has also given recitals at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and Kioi Hall in Tokyo, among others. Hadelich led A Far Cry with
something any wind player would especially admire. Unlike the preceding selection, the Shostakovich sonata included percussion. This provided additional edge to an already sharp piece and made its organized chaos even more potent. Originally written for piano and violin, this version of the sonata did not feel like an arrangement because of Hadelich’s brilliant
PHOTO BY AUDREY NADLER ’18
A Far Cry performs the first selection of the concert, contemporary c o m p o s e r T h o m a s A d è s ’ “ A rc a d i a n a . ” for the much darker next song. Shostakovich originally wrote the middle selection as a birthday gift in 1968. The piece itself doesn’t exactly scream ‘happy birthday;’ instead, it features stoic seriousness, fiery conflict and tragic passion across three movements, respectively. The sonata featured solo violinist Augustin Hadelich, a
an energy that visibly moved every member of the orchestra. In sections played in unison, the movement of every string player’s bow seemed to model his. His movement and facial expressions mirrored the tone of the piece and contributed to the audible energy of the music. You could even hear his precisiontimed breath between phrases,
performance. He remained still as stone with profound silence for what seemed to be tens of seconds as his final chord dissipated from Wellin Hall. The audience was clearly moved. After the intermission, A Far Cry presented its feature for the night: Leoš Janáček’s “Idyll” for string orchestra. “Idyll,” written in 1878, contains seven move-
ments of emotional and graceful music. A more traditional piece, its energy strongly contrasted with that of the preceding contemporary songs. The players were clearly enjoying themselves with this selection by the way they communicated. Every so often, a principal smiled to another or to members of his or her section and each would reciprocate. Inspired heavily by Dvorák, “Idyll” is known for its intricate integration of emotion, phrases and expressive writing. Each movement of “Idyll” had a unique character, ranging from upbeat to melancholy. The emotion in the piece was not hard to identify or relate to, like the pieces of Shostakovich and Adès were. After the performance, violinist Liesl Schoenberger explained that the emotional variation among all three pieces and the order in which they were arranged created a story to which listeners could relate. “It feels so nice to be able to connect to an audience... I think people here understood what we were trying to communicate,” she said. The audience’s standing ovation of the orchestra at the end of the concert is testament to the success of the program’s development. A Far Cry looks to expand its reach in the chamber music community by continually collaborating with renowned performers like Hadelich, commissioning new works for chamber orchestra and performing internationally. Its 2013-2014 season consisted of over 30 concerts in Boston and abroad. A Far Cry hopes to inspire a new generation of musicians with its unique method of leadership within the orchestra.
Weekend Schedule SATURDAY
SUNDAY
9:00 a.m.
Anna Do and Joe
TBA
10:00a.m.
Fouth and Long
Screaming Ultraviolet Vibezone
11:00 a.m.
Agape
Gentlemen’s Hour
12:00 p.m.
The Weekly Report
Producciones Superlatives
1:00 p.m.
Untitled #4
People Our Parents Like
2:00 p.m.
Peace, Love, and Corgies
Out of Sound
3:00 p.m.
Indie Potporrie
All Love
4:00 p.m.
Lux & Lime Radio Hour
Out of Our Element
5:00 p.m.
Tiki Til You Freaki
The Southern Girl
6:00 p.m.
On The Road
12:51
7:00 p.m.
Continental Breakfast Club
Adventures of Marta and Tigerchild
8:00 p.m.
Grooves
Guilty Pleasures
9:00 p.m.
TBA
Ctrl-Alt-Esc
10:00 p.m.
Gully Tactics
Untitled #s 8 & 9
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SPORTS
14
September 18, 2014
Task Force examines student-athlete culture
by Tucker Hamlin ’17 Sports Editor
Last December, Athletic Director Jon Hind ’80 and Dean of Faculty Pat Reynolds, along with several other Hamilton administrators, began a full review of the athletics program. Sports are an integral part of the campus community; over a third of the students play on varsity teams, and many others participate in club or intramural squads and physical education. This
“We have an expectation that an excellent athletics program...means a student athletic experience that is competitive within the NESCAC.” —Pat Reynolds Task Force was designed to take a comprehensive look at all aspects of the program. The Department of P.E. and Athletics partners with several offices on campus, from Admissions, Communications and Academic Affairs, among many others. As Pat Reynolds stated,
“The task force was to enhance the collaboration and the understanding that all these contributors are critical to our Athletics program’s success.” Within this program, there are four sub-categories that the task force is based around: the athletic department, athletic resources, the campus culture and recruitment. “We wanted to look at what the partnership between these categories is, and if it is effective,” Jon Hind told The Spectator. In general, the Task Force is trying to make sure these four categories are all being utilized to the best and most effective degree. Specifically, the athletic department sector is looking at the work of the administrators, coaches and each team, to make sure they are being strongly supported. Within the category of resources, the Task Force is looking at whether or not the budget is appropriate for facilities, staff and branding. Although there may not be any deficiences in terms of resource availability, as the new locker room facility is set to open this year, Hind reiterated the importance of “being competitive with other schools especially within the NESCAC.” The final two categories, campus culture and recruitment, are two areas often not thought about in the everyday function of athletics; however, they still play a pivotal role for the program and for student athletes. With much of the student population involved in sports, the Task Force has made a strong effort to get a better
grasp on the school culture through the website and broadcasting of games, to see how well-integrated into academic and social life our student-athletes are. Complementing this, the recruitment category is supported by Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Monica Inzer. The rest of the admissions staff play an important role in making sure the school’s recruitment for the program is attracting the best student athletes, even while Hamilton competes against other NESCAC schools.
“...[Our] goal is to be the very best we can and optimize the time we have practicing and working with other players and coaches.” —Jon Hind ’80
Although much of what the task force is trying to accomplish is for varsity athletes, Dean Reynolds discussed how he works hard “to ensure excellent experiences for our student-athletes, all those who take part in intramural sports and for all students who take part in the physical education program.”
Dean Reynolds told The Spectator how the college mission emphasizes athletic success. The mission discusses “the academic success of student-athletes, the contribution of athletics to our residential learning environment, the role of student-athletes in our community and as ambassadors for Hamilton in competition and in our surrounding communities.” Reynolds continued to say, “We have an expectation that an excellent athletics program at an excellent liberal arts college means a student athletic experience that is competitive within the NESCAC. Therefore, this multi-faceted success is the purpose of the Task Force.” As the task force continues to meet, Jon Hind expressed, “This Task Force is a good time to take a comprehensive look at our athletes and program as a whole. Our athletes try their very best and compete. We of course want to win more, but our goal is to be the very best we can and optimize the time we have practicing and working with other players and coaches.” Overall, the Task Force continues to work with different members of the community to make sure student athletes and all who participate in athletic competition have the best experiences possible. The athletic program, along with the help from faculty in different academic departments are making sure the program is efficient and competitive, in the hopes of making the program even stronger for the years to come.
Follow @HamCollSports for real-time updates from your favorite teams, including: Hamilton Athletics @HamCollSports Cross Country @HamCollXC_TF Men’s and Women’s Basketball @HamCollBBall @HamCollMBBall Field Hockey @HamCollFieldHoc Golf @HamiltonCGolf Football @HamCollFootball
SPORTS
15
September 18, 2014
Kreider pacing W. Soccer early
Reeves headlines M. Golf scores
from Soccer, page 16
from Golf, page 16
opener against Trinity on Sept. 6, the Continentals battled back from an early deficit. After falling behind in the 19th minute, the Continentals lost no time in responding and within two minutes of conceding, equalized the score with Halle Becker ’15 knocking in the goal. A debut goal for Katie Kreider ’18 gave the Continentals a comfortable lead. Emily Foley ’16 also got her name up on the score board as well just minutes away from the break. Trinity’s Elisa Dolan ’15 added a late goal to narrow the gap, but Hamilton held on for a 3-2 victory. It was visible in the opener that the new members of the team were beginning to settle in, and that was on display when they played the SUNY Institute of Technology Wildcats. The women rolled over their opponents on the heels of their first conference victory. In a completely one-sided matchup, the Continentals put seven goals past the Wildcats’ keeper for a 7-0 romp, their largest margin of victory since an 8-0 win over the same team in 2008. There were some great displays from the first-years in the team as Kreider and Kate Whiston ’18 both got on the score sheet. Amanda Becker ’18 also recorded a pair of assists in the game. Goals from Rachel Hirsch ’15 and K.C. Kelly ’17 made for the other tallies in this fixture dominated by the Continentals. On Sept. 13, however, after the
first half of the game against Bates, the scoreboard read 0–0. Kreider had a shot which ricocheted off the crossbar to nearly give Hamilton a lead, the closest either team came to scoring. Early in the second half, the hosts opened up the scoring and sustained their lead until the 81st minute, when the Continentals tied the game off a goal from Becker. Alex Millstrom ’15, however, struck home the winner for Bates with just 34 seconds left on the clock, handing Hamilton its first loss of the season. In its third consecutive away game, the team faced Renssealer, and again, it was a tough game to call. Victoria Freeman ’16 attempted a shot that deflected off the crossbar in the most intriguing moment of the first half, which ended goalless. The second half saw the hosts pick up the lead only to lose it five minutes later as Kreider tied the game, with Becker assisting the goal with her first helper of the season. Late drama was in store yet again, but this time Whiston landed the winner with just three minutes left in the contest. The late victory extended Hamilton’s winning streak over non-conference opponents to 10 consecutive matches. As a whole throughout these initial four games, the Continentals have looked like a clear playoff-caliber team. Kreider, Whiston and Amanda Becker have settled in smoothly and the keepers are sharp. Winning all but one of their games so far is more than encouraging and creates anticipation for how high this team’s ceiling may reach.
Reeves ’17, who carded an opening 78, a mere five shots off the lowest round. The round was the best for the Hamilton men over the weekend as well as a season-best for the sophomore. As one of the three returning squad members, Reeves stressed the importance of persistence, asserting, “What went well for me was that I kept my head down and kept trying, even after blowing up for a couple of holes.” Reeves also noted that although half the team was playing the course for the first time, the men didn’t let that affect them. Riley Burgess ’18 and Joe Tigani ’18 have demonstrated they are key contributors and followed Reeves into the clubhouse with 81 and 83, respectively. After the first day, the team was in twelfth place and within 10 shots of the six teams ahead of them. The 9:00 a.m. shotgun start on Sunday brought sunnier weather but not much warmth, as temperatures did not rise above 50 degrees for most of the morning. The team took positive strides as four out of the five players improved their individual scores. All of the golfers shot between 81 and 83, an improvement from Saturday’s rounds. The Continentals improved their team score to 325, down a single stroke from 326 during Saturday’s round. Overall, the men took 15th place out of the 25 teams competing. The men’s team took fourth out of the NESCAC teams present at the tournament, which is good news looking forward to the rest of their season. In two weeks,
Hamilton will host the NESCAC Championship Qualifier at their home course, the Skenendoa Club. The top four teams at the qualifier will advance to compete in the spring season’s NESCAC Tournament and the winner of the qualifier will host the spring competition. The spring tournament winner receives the NCAA
“What went well for me was that I kept my head down... even after blowing up for a couple of holes.” —Greg Reeves ’17 bid, so placing in the top four teams is very important. Co-captain Gipper Gailor ’15 agreed, saying, “The weather definitely makes you focus more, so the weekend was good practice for the Williams invitational this weekend and the NESCAC Championship qualifier next weekend.” As the men return to a week of practice, the team will be working on improving from this weekend before the Williams Fall Invitational on Sept. 20 and 21. Reeves reflected on the weekend: “Our goal for next week is what it has been all season, to keep our heads down and make tough bogey putts when everything seems to be going poorly.”
Continental Sports Highlights Women’s Tennis
Men’s Soccer
The Continentals opened the season with an 8-1 home victory over SUNY Cortland. Mira Khanna ’15 and Claire Keyte ’17 won 8-3 after going 10-6 as a team last year, while No. 1 doubles partners Liz Detwiler ’15 and Winnie Tang ’17 started their season with an 8-6 victory.
The men’s team won its first NESCAC road game of the season, defeating Bates 2-0. Alec Talsania ’17 and Jacob Frost ’15 scored second-half goals, while goalkeeper Harris Pollack ’17 recorded his second shutout in three starts. The win moved Hamilton to 2-0-1 for the semester.
Field Hockey
Cross Country
Eva Rosencrans ’17 landed three goals in Hamilton’s win over SUNY Oswego. With a 3-1 record, including an overtime win over Bates, the field hockey team is off to its best start since 2011.
At the Saratoga Invitational on September 13, the men’s team finished sixth out of 14 teams while the women placed seventh out of 14. Ben Yeo ’15 and Lainie Smith ’16 led their respective teams.
SPECTATOR SPORTS
September 18, 2014
Football builds towards new season
by Gregg Nabhan ’18 Sports Contributor
The Hamilton football team’s days of preparation have not been easy so far, with players battling injuries, fighting for starting positions, adjusting to a new head coach and playbook and, of course, facing the greater task of rebuilding a program from the ground up. Yet despite the customary struggles of preseason, captain Vincent DeCindio ’15 remains positive. “Team morale is better than it has ever been in my time here,” he said. Offensively, senior captain and offensive linemen Nick Noonan ’15 explains that as a team, Hamilton football is no stranger to adjustments. Though a challenge, DiCindio added, “Learning a new offense for the third year…has undoubtedly been one of our successes. We’ve all stuck it out, but you’ve just got to focus on your game, your responsibility.” In terms of offensive strategy, Noonan stressed the diversity of plays and formations. “The offense will not be predictable,” he asserted. Chase Rosenberg ’17 will assume the role of starting quarterback for the base Power-I and spread looks. “Chase has great chemistry with everyone,” said Noonan, most notably with Patrick Donahoe ’16 and Nick Caso ’16, as well as Charles Ensley ’17. Furthermore, look out for a dangerous “Wildcat” supplement that features
halfback Jeffrey Hopsicker ’16 taking snaps as he is accompanied by bulwark first-year fullback, Jason Nastovski ’18. However, the Continentals will unfortunately be without right tackle and captain DiCindio for what looks to be a majority of the season. DeCindio tore his ACL, MCL and meniscus in a loss to Middlebury last season. “I’m motivated and optimistic to make a return… with the help of [Scott Siddon] and the awesome training staff,” he expressed with confidence. Matt Snider’17 will fill the role for the time being. Despite a whole new defensive playbook, new Head Coach Dave Murray will be able to look The football season opens
to a very experienced group of talent on the opposite side of the ball. Free safety Ian Milne ’15 believes that this past week, following their strong showing against Cornell, has helped tremendously in terms progressing the defense as a unit. “This week was huge for knowing everything better, and just tightening the entire defense. The whole culture has changed,” he said, referring to the positive energy present in the locker room and on the field this year from the new coaching staff. “The terminology has been the hardest part,” he noted, “but the coaches have been incredibly helpful, and it’s been a pretty smooth transition.” Senior captain and NESCAC allconference first team defensive tackle Michael De on Sept. 20 at Tufts. Percin will be
the heart of the Continental’s defense, anchoring the middle of the line. Milne refers to him as the most dangerous player on the field. Further adding to the front seven will be linebacker Cade Larabee ’16. “[Larabee] has looked great coming back from a torn ACL.” Holding his own in the secondary will be Milne himself as well as Alex Mitko ’16. “Mitko will be a
“Team morale is better than it has ever been in my time here.” —Vincent DeCindio ’15 real leader back there,” asserted Millan. Special teams will be backed by new talent as first-year kicker Zach Altneu ’18 will take on the starting role, as well as many other underclassmen showing their worth. The Continentals have certainly experienced early preseason success thus far. “We have continued to improve as a football program every practice,” said Coach Murray. While the first real test at Tufts this coming Saturday has yet to come, it is surely refreshing to see a Hamilton football team so confident in identifying itself by both progress and hope.
W. Soccer starts with three wins M. Golf competes at Midd. tourney by Viktor Mehandzhiyski ’18 Sports Contributor
Less than two weeks after the beginning of the soccer season, the Hamilton women’s soccer team has already competed in four matches. Starting off with a game against Trinity on Sept. 6 and playing its latest match against Rensselaer on the 14th, the squad has endured an exhausting four-games-innine-days stretch. Despite the adverse schedule, the Continentals have done their part bril-
liantly by winning all but one of the games so far and accumulating nine points in the process. The team may still be in the early stages of the season, but its results thus far look more than promising and portend a potentially thrilling and successful year after the team unexpectedly missed the NESCAC postseason in 2013. In what was a morning filled with strong winds and rain, the women showed character. In their seasonsee Soccer, page 15
The women’s soccer team has won three of its first four games.
by Liz Morris ’16 Sports Contributor
From Sept. 13-14, the men’s golf team took 15th place out of 25 teams at the 31st Duke Nelson Invitational. The two-day tournament was played at the Ralph Myhre Course at Middlebury College. The course is 6,379 yards long and boasts 12 elevated greens, which test even the most talented golfers. According to the course description on Middlebury’s website, patience is a necessity, advising, “Be patient if you don’t hit a
Co-captain
Gipper
Gailor
lot of greens because they are relatively small. Bring your short game to get it up and down on most holes.” Golf can be an entirely different sport depending on the weather. The conditions during the first round were bleak. Winds, rain and cold temperatures all added extra difficulty to the already challenging course. The scores across the scoreboard reflected this as no golfers were below par and only a small amount broke 80. One of those golfers is Greg see Golf, page 15
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF MIKE DOHERTY
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